Improvement in harvesters



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@anni "Letters Patent No. 84,887, dated December l5, 1868 anteda'tfd .December 3, 1868.

IIWPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

The Schedule referred'to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To whom it may concern:

of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

making part of this specification.

Our improvements consist in an improved ratcheted connection of the'ground-wheels to the axle, and a novel nd simple adjustable caster for supporting the fingerar. Figure l is a perspective view of a machine embodying our improvements;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the elevatinglevers;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a guard;

'Figure 4 shows the parts of the ratchet-movement detached; and

Figures 5 and 6, detached'views respectively of the toothed face of the head of the iinger-bar, supportingcaster, and an arrangement of studs on the ends ofthe nger-bar, to engage with said toothed head, to hold the caster in vits diiierent positions.

The frame A, platform B, and mechanism C for transmitting motion from the groupd-wheels D D', to the cutter-bar E, may be of any approved construction, and require no specific description, except for the ratcheted connection of the groundwheels with the main shaft F, which connection we believe superior to any heretofore employed, and will therefore more particularly describe.

G is one of the stands or boxes, in which the main shaft F revolves, said boxes being bolted upon the main frame A, at about its mid-length.

Keyed fast to main shaft F, just outside of its journal-boxes G, are hubs H; said hubs being recessed to receive ratchet-rings I.

On one side of ratchet-lings I are ratcheted teeth t, and on the other side of said rings are projections i', which engage, as clutches, with similar projections, h, cast on the outer ends of the hubs H.

0n the ends of main shaft F, and against the projecting margins of the hubs H, are placed the ground or driving-wheels D D', on whose inner sides are cast ratchet-teeth d, which bear such relation to the ratchet-teeth on the loose rings I', that when vthe machine is moved forward, the rings, by means ofthe ratchet-teeth, engage fast in the teeth of the wheels, thereby causing a continuous motion of the main shaft F, the ratchet-rings being thrown out, and attaching. themselves to the wheels D D by spiral springs J in hubs, but, in backward motion, the said ratchet-.teeth reverse their relation to each other, so as to produce no motion whatever on the drivingshag F, the wheels D D'revolving loosely on the sha The wheels D D' are retained on the sha by means of nuts K screwed fast thereto.

To one side of main 'ame A, at the rear end of same, is attached a bracket, L, to which is hinged the shoeM, which carries the ugr-bar N.

The outer extremity of the finger-bar has a caster, 0, journalledin a hanger, I?, whose toothed or serrated head p is secured to end of bar by pivot-bolt Q, and receives a pawl, It, or else engages in a corresponding boss on the bar, as shown in iig. 6; its supportingpivot inthat case consisting of a setscrew, or equivalent device, to allow it to be readily withdrawn from -said' boss, and .set up to it again in adjusting the caster, to hold it to any desired position.

The inner extremity of' said bar may have a similar caster, O.

Pivoted to rear end of shoe M is a lever, S, whose lower extremity, acting against a boss, m, on the shoe,

or other obstruction.

In order that this action may be under control of the operator, a chain, T, attached to the upper end of In order to enable the operator to elevate the entire hand of the operator, a lever, W, which is pivoted to a segment-rack, X, on the main frame, and has a shotbolt, Y, adapted to take into either one of a series of i notchest, and a heel, w, which, bearing against the heel-portion of the draught-pole Z, acts, by elevating the entire rear portion of the main frame, to, at the same time, elevate the nger-bar bodily from the ground.

To the nger-bar are attached the guards or fingers made in the following manner:

The lower part, 1, `is made of wrought-iron, of the .p1-oper size and shape, and has a bit or piece of steel, 2, welded at theproper place, to support the sickle, and to ai'ord a cutting-edge in coaction therewith.

The bit having been welded in place, the entire piece tion is then ground to a smooth surface, for the play of the sickle, and ground to a iine cutting-edge.

The cap or top part 3 is a separate piece, of wrought or malleable iron, and is firmly secured to the lower part by means bolts or rivets 4, and welded at the point.

Letters Patent- F, of the ratcheted rings I ii,'the lugs or projections h, cast on the heads of said hubs H, the ratchet-teeth d en the ground-wheels'D, and the coiled spring J,-.as, and for the purpose specified.

2. The linger-bar, supporting caster OP, adjustable by means of the serrated or toothed head p and pawl hands.

S. K. LIGHTER. J. CURTIS. Witnesses:

GEO. H. KNIGHT, A.. W. Eoxnn'r.

ite. tre* becomes eectivefor lifting the'bar to clear a stump' the lever S, being carried over pulleys U, is made fast;A to a lever, V, convenient to the hand of the operator.

finger-bar when desired, I provide, convenient to the is swaged into the proper shape by means of a suitable hammer, die, or press, and afterward brought toV the right temper for cutting-purposes. The bit-por- Y We claim herein as new, anddesireto secure byy 1. The arrangement, within the hubs H on the shaft R,or its described equivalent, substantially as set `forth In testimonyof which invention, we hereunto set our 4 

